The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-11-17


maker. The idea of losing 30 excellent
and con6ding a customer, who actually y
paid in advance before bis orders were
executed, was inexpressiblE aggravating.
On the other hand, they reflected on the
e entuality-most unlikely, no doubt,
but still pos ible of his proving the bet
ter shot of the two. Rogue owed them a
large sum of money, and if by chance he
should fall victim in the coming duel,
who would pay their bllsY Staub looked
at Sakosky, and Sakosky looked at Staub.
They understood each other.
Monsieur" said the latter, Gin case
like yours the choice of seconds is a mat
ter of great Importance. May take the
liberty of inquiring the names of those
about to officiate in your behalf?"
IL have none as yet" replied the young
provincial. 81 shall probably take the
first two soldiers happen to meet any
one, in short. | have NO acquaintance in
Paris to whom | can apply"
Then, Monster" said Staub, g I may
venture to make proposal. Whenever
L have leisure moment l am generally
to be found at q shooting gallery where
some of our best marksmen are in the
habit Of practicing, and am not altogether
tyro myself. Therefore, as you are un-
provided with seconds, if you will conde-
scend to accept my services and those OF
NJ Sakosky--''
Most willingly" interrupted Sym
phorien, who desired nothing better.
You have anticipated my wish, and
save me an in6nity of trouble"
Three hours later the two adversaries
and their second arrived punctually at
the spot fixed upon for the encounter.
AT the sight of his tailor and bootmaker
Rogue stared in amazement, and, advan-
cling angrily toward them, inquired what
business they had there.
Is this a time or place." he cried,
" for Fostering me with your confounded
bills?'
"Oh, NJ. Rogue" protested Staub,
how could you suspect us Of such an
unwarranted liberty? We are not here
as tradesmen, bat in the honorable capac-
ity Of seconds to NJ Balveau"
"What - exclaimed Rogue, who could
hardly believe his ears he has chosen
YOU"
gave him our names and addresses, and
As he knew no one else in Paris he WAS
only too glad to avail himself of our SER
vices"
Roque's sense of humor, although by
no means a prominent feature in his char
acter, was so irresistibly tickled by the
comicaity of the situation that he laugh
ed outright. Pro6ting by this unwonted
geniality, his two creditors implored him
to be merciful.
"Consider, monster" said Sakosky, if
you deprive us of so excellent a customer
what loss it will be to both of US? A
perfect treasure, who pays without bar
gaining and before the goods are del'v-
cred These are hard times, m. Rogue" "
"And we have so many bad debts on
our books" insinuated Staub.
Apparently not relishing the last allu-
sion, Rogue pushed them unceremoni-
ously aside, and striding up to where his
adversary was standing, eyed him curl
ously
"You are sharper fellow than | took
you for" he said.
sin what way ?" asked Baliveau.
"You know how to get ont of scrape
without compromising yourself. Tell me,
what made you so bent on duel last
nightr'
"Ambition," frankly replied the pro-
vineial. {" wished for celebrity, and saw
no better method of obtaining it,"
"Ah! you are afflicted with that ma
MIA. So was once, but have outlived
the folly. We'll, your wish shall be graft
fled, and more easily than mine was. Get
into my cabriolet; when we are seen to
gcther, people will say of you: There is
the first man who ever went out with
Rogue and came in safe and sound =
Jump in, lest change my mind; and
that would be the worst for your
Symphorien needed no second hint, but
took his seat beside his companion, by
whom he was driven back to Paris and
paraded for full hour along the boule-
ward. At length they stopped opposite
Tortoni's. "1hat will do,'' said Rogue ;
eve part company here. Enjoy your
celebrity while you can, and if it
shouldn't last don't blame me. Adieu ~
Stepping out of the cabriolet and salut
ing his late antagonist with jaunty air,
Ballveau, agreeably conscious that he was
the object of universal attention, pro-
ceeded leisurely to the Cafe de Paris (then
the restaurant in vogue), where he dined
and felt that from the dame du compton
TO the attending waiter every eye was
upon upon him. During the rest of the
evening his thirst for notoriety was salts
fed even beyond his anticipation as he
passed strangers whispered to each other
and glanced at him with respectful admi
ration. "At last" he said to himself,
when he had etrolled for the twentieth
time from the Rue Grange Bateliere to
the Chausee d'Antin and vice versa" at
last am somebody's"
Alas for the instability of human fell
city! The hero of the hour had not
counted on the provsrblal fickleness of
the Parisians Next day a heavy fall
took place at the bourse, and on his ap-
pearance on the boulevard in the after
noon ga change had come DER the spirit
OF his dream" TO his amazement and
discontinue constant succession of pre-
occupied spectators, with scared or jubi-
liant faces, as the case might be, hurried
along without pausing even to glance at
him :: he was alone in the crowd, his pres
ence unbeeded nay, his very existence
forgotten. At Tortoni's, no one honored
him with look of recognition the cours
de la ren.e was the absorbing topic every
where discussed, and even at the Cafe de
Paris the waiter who had yesterday min
istered to his wants with deferential
alacrity, now served him mechanically,
and without the faintest apparent recol.